Pakistan alleges India released water into Jhelum without warning, leading to flood-like situation

Tensions between India and Pakistan have further escalated following the Phalgam terror attack, with Pakistan now accusing India of releasing water into the Jhelum River without prior notice, as per reports. 

The sudden discharge reportedly took place on Saturday, causing an abrupt rise in the river’s water levels and triggering alarm across several areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to local reports, the water level surged dramatically near Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, leading Pakistani officials to blame India for the unexpected flow. Authorities stated that the release violated established international protocols and the existing Indus Waters Treaty, which mandates advance communication regarding any such water-related actions. 

In response to the rising water levels, the local administration in Hattian Bala — a town situated approximately 40 kilometers from Muzaffarabad along the Jhelum’s banks — declared a water emergency, as per reports.

Mosque loudspeakers were reportedly used to alert residents about the potential danger, which reportedly triggered panic among the population living close to the river.

The water is believed to have entered PoK from Kashmir’s Anantnag region and rose swiftly through the Chakothi sector. Residents were urged to move to safer areas and stay alert as authorities monitored the situation closely.

Pakistani officials strongly condemned the incident, terming it a "complete violation" of international water-sharing agreements and accusing India of deliberately heightening tensions in an already volatile environment. They have called for international attention to the matter, asserting that such unilateral actions threaten regional stability.

The Indian government declared that the treaty will remain suspended until Pakistan ‘credibly and irreversibly’ abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.